Police defend Ashya King search tactics

Hampshire Police Assistant Police Constable Chris Shead has said that he makes "no
apology for being as proactive as possible" while trying to find
5-year-old Ashya King, who was removed from a UK hospital by his parents
against medical advice

"Faced with those circumstances, I make no apology for the police being as proactive as we possibly can to actually find Ashya and ensure that he gets the help he needed."

Mr Shead added: "I would much sooner be standing here facing criticism for being proactive than to stand here and face criticism for doing nothing and then potentially having to explain why a child has lost his life."

The officer explained that the Kings were found because a member of staff at the hotel where they were staying recognised the family thanks to the police's media appeal.

The Kings are currently being held in custody and police have 72 hours to question them before handing them over to a judge, who will begin extradition proceedings.